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Did you really think that the Knicks would play great basketball for four quarters every single game this year?

For three quarters last night, you saw the Knicks play the type of basketball that would make them a borderline playoff team with a record around .500. It was obvious from the get-go that the Knicks did not take the Magic seriously, something made obvious by their play.

The defense was reminiscent of what Knicks fans had seen in the last decade, with the Magic getting free runs to the basket and wide open threes. They took their cue from their star, with Carmelo Anthony looking uninspired and more concerned with complaining to the referees than playing defense. Many times he simply walked up the court after a bad offensive possession, allowing the Magic to get easy looks in transition.

At times, excited to work in a mismatch against Glen “Big Baby” Davis, he would wait too long or try to score against Orlando double teams. It was by far his worst game of the year.

Of course, he was not alone. Orlando is one of the worst offensive teams in the league, and one of the least talented. They still managed to score 76 points through three quarters and shoot an embarrassing 54 percent from the field. The Knicks’ defense lacked energy and their offense lacked cohesion. There was far too little ball movement.

Good teams have the ability to close teams when they have to, but it should raise a red flag that the team was so flat for three quarters against a bad team. This group hasn’t won anything yet and shouldn’t take any opponent or game for granted. That’s the next step for this group and for Anthony, their leader.

Lost on Anthony’s growth this year has been the play of Smith, who is improving his shot selection and efficiency. He is also playing defense every possession and rebounding extremely well for a guard. You will still get the slap-yourself-in-the-forehead 18-foot step-back jumper, but they are fewer and far between.

Also, a quick footnote: Rasheed Wallace needs to chill with the threes. What happened to teaching these youngsters how to post up? Let’s get back to that.

It was an ugly win for the Knicks, and they’ll have more as the season goes along.

But I hope that Mike Woodson makes sure his team understands that slippage like that against better teams will result in losses. If the Knicks really want to challenge for a title, letdowns like these must be avoided at all costs. The coach must make sure they understand that, and their players have to accept it. Playing like they did in the fourth quarter, on the other hand, will make them contenders all year long.

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How long will the Knicks keep their undefeated streak going? Give us your predictions in the comments section below…